The Ferrari World has opened its doors, the F1 races will be taking place soon, and my favourite of all – The Abu Dhabi Art Fair rolls out from 4 to 7 November at the Emirates Palace. They will expand on last year’s programme, while the main show, which is the essence of the art fair, will remain the same. I am eager to check out some of the greatest artworks of artists – both dead and alive.
Apart from the main fair, there is “Signature”, a section dedicated to innovative and challenging contemporary works by emerging international artists in one-person show formats, and “Beyond”, a selection of outdoor installations.
Not to miss will be the public programmes; workshops, panels and lectures involving top artists and figures from the international art world and from around the region, as well as book launches, film screenings and performances. I love the energy and the vibe of the opening night and the opportunity to meet new and like-minded people through the course of the event.
Last year, I immensely enjoyed lectures by curators. I had gone every single day to the fair as I did not wish to miss anything. The live performances in the evenings under ‘Art, Talks and Sensations’ programme on the beach of the Palace, were fantastic. I specifically remember a particular performance which involved three gentlemen eating a meal on banana leaves in traditional South Indian style. It was unlike any live video performance that I had previously seen. Those of you who attended would also remember the spectacular fireworks on the beach.
If you are craving some action yourself, get your hands dirty at the workshops. On offer are mono-print making, 3D multilingual typography with the Khatt Foundation, drawing and sculpture, workshops with Estudio Campana and lots more. Quite a number of people flock to the fair for these workshops, and it is fun to watch them create, as well as get involved themselves.
Ah,and for art lovers from Dubai, please make sure you hop on the Art Bus which runs to Abu Dhabi during leading art events. The Art Bus to Abu Dhabi operates from 4 to 7 November 2010. It departs daily from thejamjar gallery, Dubai, at 9am, and will make the rounds to the city’s independent galleries, visiting Qibab Art Gallery, Acento Gallery, Eclectic, Ghaf Art Gallery, and Salwa Zeidan Gallery, before going on to Emirates Palace. ArtBus has dedicated art guides at the helm, and passengers receive comprehensive information packs giving them the low down on Abu Dhabi’s art scene and what the day’s programme holds – and all of this for just Dh 50…an absolute steal!
